Mountain Bike Archives | Cycling Canada Cyclisme

HALEY SMITH AND ANDREW L’ESPERANCE WIN CANADIAN XCM CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Sept. 5, 2023) – The first Canadian XCM Champions after a three-season hiatus were determined in Whitehorse, YK, on Sept. 3, 2023.

Athletes from across the country traveled north to experience Cycling Canada’s first-ever event in the Yukon. Haley Smith and Andrew L’Esperance, both of Maxxis Factory Racing, brought their recent experience from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships to bear to win the Elite Women and Elite Men categories, respectively.

“It feels great to win a national title in the XCM and super happy that this event is back on the calendar,” commented L’Esperance. “It came back in a special way with the cycling community of Whitehorse and the Yukon welcoming us to their corner of the country. Aside from the racing, it was an incredible experience to get to visit a northern territory, learn about the culture, meet so many people and enjoy the incredible trails and scenery. Overall, a top-notch weekend.”

The celebratory feel of the weekend was enhanced with the premiere of Together on the Trail: Mountain Biking in the Land of the Midnight Sun. The short film, presented by Cycling Canada and Yukon’s airline, Air North, shines a light on the territory’s unique mountain bike community. It can be viewed online here.

Geof Harries, President of event organizer, Cycling Association of Yukon, summarized, “This weekend and the entire week will be a legacy for Yukon cycling and cycling in the Canadian north as a whole.”

The full list of results from the Canadian XCM Championships can be found here. Next up on the Canadian Championships calendar is the BMX Freestyle Championships, which will be held on Oct. 27 in Markham, ON. The full calendar of national events can be found on the Cycling Canada website.

THE YUKON WELCOMES MARATHON MOUNTAIN BIKE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Aug. 30, 2023) – The Yukon is about to welcome athletes from all over Canada to Whitehorse for the 2023 Canadian XCM MTB Championships on Sept. 1-3 for the first time ever.

“We’re thrilled to be seeing an event up in the Yukon,” said Jolène Dupuis, Cycling Canada Events and Officials Manager. “We cannot be more excited to showcase this beautiful territory during our Canadian XCM MTB Championships as part of their Yukon Bike Fest. With activities planned all around the Championships, we have no doubt that this will be a memorable event and adventure for all involved and participating.”

Fresh off participation at the mountain bike marathon competition at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, GBR, Haley Smith and Andrew L’Esperance are hoping to step on the podium in Whitehorse. They will be joined by fellow Canadian National Cycling Team athlete Ruby West and Canadian Cyclo-cross Championship bronze medallist Hannah Simms.

Adding to the weekend’s excitement, Cycling Canada will debut a short film, Together on the Trail: Mountain Biking in the Land of the Midnight Sun, on Sept. 2. The film shines a light on the Yukon’s unique mountain bike community and participants are encouraged to attend the premiere generously hosted by Yukon’s airline, Air North.

Details on the film premiere, the full technical guide and important event information can be found on the Events Page of the Cycling Canada website.

ISABELLA HOLMGREN WINS SECOND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF 2023 AT UCI CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (Aug. 10, 2023) – Isabella Holmgren of Orillia, ON, added the title of Women Junior Cross-country Olympic (XCO) Champion to her growing record on Aug. 10 at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, GBR.

“It was crazy, it was very fun, it still doesn’t feel real. I really like the course and the climbing, and because Ava wasn’t able to race, I just raced extra hard for her,” said Holmgren speaking of her sister and fellow competitor Ava Holmgren, who crashed in practice.

Isabella Holmgren
Photo Credit: Alex Broadway/SWpix.com
Holmgren, who also became the first Canadian to win the Junior Cyclo-cross World Championship in Hoogerheide, NED, earlier this year, established an early lead in the first lap of the race, ultimately finishing with a time of 1:07:37h. She was joined on the podium by teammate Marin Lowe of Squamish, BC, who crossed the finish line 39s later for the silver medal. Natalia Grzegorzewska of Poland claimed bronze.Holmgren also competed in the Women Junior Road Race on Aug. 5, where she was the top Canadian finisher in eighth place.

Full results from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships can be found here and daily highlights from the Canadian National Cycling Team can be found at https://cyclingcanada.ca/news.

WHISTLER CROWNS FOUR NEW CANADIAN ENDURO CHAMPIONS

Ottawa, ON (July 31, 2023) – Crankworx and the Canadian Enduro League played host to the first sanctioned Canadian Enduro Championships since 2019 on July 30, 2023, crowning new national champions in the discipline in Whistler, BC.

 Three-time Olympic alpine and freestyle skier Brittany Phelan took the lead in the Women Elite’s race, racing four of the five fastest stages in her category, to finish 36.8 seconds in front of Miranda Miller.

 “It feels awesome. I’ve always been second but today I knew how to get the lead after the Blackcomb descent and I just wanted to keep it together and settle for a good race,” said Phelan. “I felt like I rode fast and smooth all day, I pedalled as fast as I possibly could on every single stage and I feel like I didn’t really leave anything out there. Whatever the result was in the end, I was going to be stoked with it because I was stoked with my ride and the effort I put in today.”

Going into the race, there were high expectations for Emmy Lan (U21 Women), Jesse Melamed (Elite Men) and Rhys Verner (Elite Men) after stellar finishes in the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Lan took the win in the U21 Women’s field, while Melamed and Verner battled it out on the trails, with Melamed ultimately finishing 21.20 seconds in front of Verner.

In the U21 Men’s category, Wei Tien Ho was the fastest rider of the day, scoring the best time in all five stages with a total time of 39:27.02 – a time that would have been competitive amongst the Elite Men.

The full list of results can be found here. Next up on the Canadian Championships calendar are the Canadian XCM Championships, which will be held on Sept. 1-3 in Whitehorse, YK. The full calendar of national events can be found on the Cycling Canada website.

 

 

CANADIAN ENDURO TITLES UP FOR GRABS IN WHISTLER

Ottawa, ON (July 27, 2023) – U21 and Elite athletes are on their way to Whistler, BC, for the first sanctioned Canadian Enduro Championships since 2019, to be held on July 30, 2023.

“We are thrilled to head to Whistler to mark the return of the sanctioned Canadian Enduro Championships as a part of the world renowned Crankworx World Tour,” said Josh Peacock, Cycling Canada Director of Events and Marketing. “This event represents an exciting collaboration between Cycling Canada, the Canadian Enduro League and Crankworx to crown the nation’s best on some of the world’s most challenging terrain.”

Well known on the international scene, Mountain Bike World Series Enduro World Cup medallists Jesse Melamed (Elite Men), Rhys Verner (Elite Men), Emmy Lan (U21 Women), Elly Hoskin (U21 Women) and Lily Boucher (U21 Women) will be on hand to battle it out for the maple leaf jersey in their respective categories.

The full technical guide and important event information can be found on the Events Page of the Cycling Canada website.

WORLD-CLASS COMPETITION CONCLUDES AT 2023 CANADIAN XCO & XCC MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (July 24, 2023) – A decorated field took to the mixed terrain and elevation of Kentville, NS, to determine the 2023 Canadian XCO & XCC MTB Champions on July 20-23.

Cross-country short track (XCC) competition was first to get underway on July 20, with the addition of new U17 and Junior categories. Rafaëlle Carrier (CVM Sigma Assurance) claimed the U17 Women’s jersey while for the men, Nicolas Gauthier (Ride with Rendall P/B Biemme) held on to an early breakaway to secure the title. Stimulus Orbea Racing Team had a great Junior showing with Marin Lowe claiming her second consecutive gold medal (Women) and Ian Ackert (Men) adding to his 2021 Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and 2022 Cyclo-cross Championships before moving onwards to the U23 category next year.

Defending Elite Champions Laurie Arseneault (Pittstop Racing Team – Women) and Carter Woods (Giant Factory Off Road Team – Men) managed to hold on to their titles with competitive, strategic racing. Arseneault commented, “It was a hard race, the pace was very high from the beginning so I had to work my way up. It was a very hard season until now, I had a lot of injuries and sickness so it felt good to be in the game again, have that win and wear the maple leaf again for the rest of the season. I love racing out east. The course is nice, people are nice, the organization is very, very good so good job to everyone.”

July 22’s XCO competition saw many athletes claim back-to-back championships including Lowe (Junior Women), Ackert (Junior Men), Carrier (U17 Women) and Woods (Elite Men).

“I felt like I had a pretty good shot at the Elite title and now I get to bring the jersey next year, too,” said Woods, who recently nabbed two Val di Sole World Cup wins as an U23 in the Mountain Bike World Series. “This is the first time where I’m feeling very confident and having some good training leading into [the UCI Cycling World Championships]. I didn’t put a lot of pressure on this week because I’ve had a couple good weeks of training so this is a complete bonus to come here and have two really, really solid rides. Back home for another two and a half weeks of focus and then I’m hoping to finish out my U23 year with a good Worlds.”

Rounding out the XCO men’s podiums were Emilien Belzile (Siboire QuiRoule – U17) and Cole Punchard (Hockley Valley Resort Armada – U23). Women’s U23 Champion Emilly Johnston (TREK Future) brought her experience to bear after winning bronze at the 2023 Nove Mesto Na Morave XCO World Cup and Jennifer Jackson (Liv Factory Racing) reclaimed the Elite Women’s title that she last held in 2021.

Jackson commented, “I’m really proud to race in the [Championship] jersey. It helps me believe that I can be the best Canadian and I want to show that on the world stage…. Championship races, there’s not a lot of them. There’s only one a year for your nation and one for the world. I set realistic goals and being national champion is a challenging but attainable goal. This is one of the milestones that I want to have to my name and carry proudly. Being able to double down and ride away with it today, I’m like, this is real, I can own this and I’m really happy about that.”

Masters also raced the XCO track. Winners included Peter Glassford (Trek Barrie-Aurora – 35-44 Men), Sue Haviland (Durham Shredders Mountain Bike Team – 35-44 Women), Aroussen Laflamme (Ponsse MTB Team – 45-54 Men), Annik Belanger (Explore Velo – 45-54 Women), Lorenzo Caterini (Hub Cycles Cycling – 55+ Men) and Lyne Nepton (Accro Velo – 55+ Women)

Competition concluded on July 23 with Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) and Cycling Canada Trade Teams competing in the Team Relay. Pivot Cycles OTE emerged victorious due to the combined efforts of Carrier, Peter Disera, Mathis Duval and Vincent Thiboutot. Anchor Disera clinched the title over defending champions Team Ontario #1 after a back-and-forth battle to the finish line against Punchard.

The full list of results can be found here. Next up on the Canadian Championships calendar are the Canadian Enduro Championships, which will be held on July 30 in Whistler, BC. The full calendar of national events can be found on the Cycling Canada website.

NOVA SCOTIA WELCOMES CANADIAN XCO & XCC MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (July 18, 2023) – U17, Junior, Elite and Masters athletes are on their way to  Kentville, NS, for the 2023 Canadian XCO and XCC MTB Championships on July 20-23.

“We are thrilled to bring the Canadian XCO and XCC Championships to Nova Scotia,” said Cycling Canada Director of Events and Marketing, Josh Peacock. “This event promises to showcase the best of maritime hospitality alongside years of trail, venue and event development by the local organizing committee, Trailflow Outdoor Adventure.”

With the recent retirement of 2022 XCO Canadian Champions Emily Batty (Elite Women) and Marianne Théberge (U23 Women), the title will be up for grabs in their categories. Looking to secure another gold medal are Peter Disera (Elite Men), Marin Lowe (Junior Women), Rafaëlle Carrier (U17 Women) and Carter Woods (U23 Men), who is coming back from two Mountain Bike World Series World Cup wins in Val di Sole, ITA, while Jacob Roy (U17 Men Champion) and Zorak Paillé (Junior Men Champion) are hoping to prove their strength in new categories, now racing respectively in the Junior and U23 ranks. 2023 XCO Mountain Bike World Series bronze medallist Emilly Johnston (U23 Women) will also be taking her place on the start line.

For the first time ever, XCC champions will be crowned within the U17 and Junior categories, while 2022 Elite Champions Laurie Arseneault and Woods are planning to leave it all on the trails to hold on to their title.

Sue Haviland (Masters Women 35-44) and Jon Barnes (Men Masters 45-54) will race to add another title to their name, while the title will be up for grabs in all other Masters category.

The full technical guide and important event information can be found on the Events Page of the Cycling Canada website.

NEW TITLES AWARDED AT THE CANADIAN DOWNHILL MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (July 17, 2023) – The 2023 Canadian Downhill MTB Championships, held in Fernie, BC, crowned eight new Canadian Champions from July 15-16.

Competition started on Saturday with seeding runs won by Austin Makson (U17 Men), Dane Jewett (Junior Men), Joy Attalla (Corsa Cycles/Dunbar Cycles – Junior Women), Lucas Cruz (Norco Factory Team – Elite Men) and Emmy Lan (Forbidden Synthesis Team – Elite Women).

2022 Canada Cup winner Brock Hawes (Gravity MTB Racing) was the fastest rider of the finals on Sunday with a time of 2:31.04, claiming his first national title in the Junior Men category after a crash in the seeding runs. He commented, “There were a couple of sections where I thought I was going to crash but we held it together and made it down. I’m at a loss for words, just buzzing.”

Bailey Goldstone (Corsa Cycles/Dunbar Cycles – Women Elite) kept her eyes on the prize, becoming Canadian Champion for the second consecutive year after battling it out with the current U21 Enduro World Series leader, Lan, who finished in second place.

The Norco Factory Team rounded out the Elite Men podium with Mark Wallace in second place and Kirk McDowall in third, letting Lucas Cruz celebrate his birthday with his very own maple leaf jersey.

In front of a home crowd, Joy Attalla stood on the highest step of the Junior Women podium, building on her bronze finish in 2022. She told Canadian Cycling Magazine, “It’s unreal. I did my first downhill race here, so it’s a real full-circle moment, it’s awesome and amazing to have my friends and family out. That just makes it, honestly.”

Anthony Shelly (Instinct Development –  U17 Men) was the fastest rider of his category, winning his first-ever Canadian title.

2022 Canadian Champions Robert Vernables (Dunbar Cycles – Masters Men B) and Donald Van Eestern (Rippers Lounge Racing – Masters Men C) held on to their title, while Tom Power (Rippers Lounge Racing – Masters Men A) was edged out by the new champion, Kristopher McMehan.

The full list of results can be found here. Next up on the Canadian Championships calendar is the Canadian XCO & XCC MTB Championships, which will both be held from July 20-23 in Nova Scotia. The full calendar of national events can be found on the Cycling Canada website.

MOUNTAIN BIKE ATHLETES HEAD TO FERNIE, BC, FOR CANADIAN DOWNHILL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ottawa, ON (July 11, 2023) – Elite, Junior, U17 and Masters athletes from all over the country will travel to Fernie, BC, on July 15-16, 2023, for the Canadian Downhill MTB Championships, where they will race for the maple leaf jersey.

“The 2023 Canadian Downhill MTB Championships are the culmination of months of preparation on the part of our athletes, as well as countless hours spent by organizers, resort staff, volunteers and officials to ensure a fun and safe event,” said Events & Officials Manager at Cycling Canada, Jolene Dupuis. “We’re looking forward to an inspiring weekend of competition in the Rocky Mountains.”

2022 Canadian Champions Bailey Goldstone (Elite Women), Gabriel Neron (Elite Men), Tegan Cruz (Junior Men) and Jon Mozell (U17 Men) will be lining up in hopes to reclaim their titles, while Gracey Hemstreet (2022 Junior Women Champion) will try to grab her first Elite title. Several familiar faces from UCI Mountain Bike World Series podiums will also be in attendance including Bodhi Kuhn (Downhill Junior Men) and Emmy Lan (Enduro U21 Women), both fresh off World Cup wins in their respective categories in Val di Sole and Val di Fassa, ITA. They will be joined by 2023 Enduro World Cup medallist Lily Boucher.

On the Masters side, current Canadian Champions Tom Power (Masters A Men), Robert Vernables (Masters B Men) and Donald Van Eesteren (Masters C Men) will race in hopes to add another gold medal to their collection.

The full technical guide and important event information can be found on the Events page of the Cycling Canada website.

NINE TEAMS AFFILIATE WITH CYCLING CANADA FOR 2023 SEASON

Ottawa, ON (March 10, 2023) – In its continuing effort to develop programs, policies and services that support Canadian teams, Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the list of nine Trade Teams that have affiliated with the organization for 2023, including four new cyclo-cross, road, track and mountain bike squads.

Returning to the roster this year will be Project Dialed In (mountain bike), with the addition of veteran mountain biker Cindy Montambault; TaG Cycling Racing Team (road), Siboire QuiRoule (mountain bike); Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes (road, track and cyclo-cross); and Stimulus/Orbea (mountain bike and cyclo-cross), with Junior cyclo-cross World Championships medallists Ava and Isabella Holmgren returning to the team.

“Being part of a Cycling Canada affiliated team is mostly about having a sense of belonging and having teammates,” said Montambault. “The older I get, the more fun I have and the better I can perform. With Project Dialed In, I already know that the projects will be exciting and that it is exactly what I need to have a balance to perform at my best.”

The four teams joining the lineup are Hewdog Racing (road); Ignite Junior Cycling (road, track); Tesseract Racing (track); and UNC Lotto Max (road).

Trade Teams affiliated with Cycling Canada receive several benefits, including free technical space at Canadian Championship and Canada Cup events, priority invitations to events on the international and national calendar, access to special rates and more. For more information, click here.